Hughes & Kettner Guitar & Bass Amplification User manual

Guitar & Bass Amplification 2006
english

Beyond the Limits
When we set out to build guitar amps more
than 20 years ago, three distinct breeds
roamed the sonic jungle
– those that purred
with sparkling clean tone, those that growled
with throaty crunch sounds, and the state-of-
the-art amp of the day that roared with feral
rock sound. But gradually guitarists began
to expect more from an amp. Increasingly
dissatisfied with the limited sonic spectrum
of these one-sound wonders, players started
toting an array of amps into the studio. And
soon gigging rigs followed suit, growing
more complex and difficult to manage.
Players’ desire for more options sparked our
vision of a new generation of guitar amps for
a new generation of guitarists. We aspired
to engineer advanced sound-sculpting tools
that would unite the best of the disparate
sonic worlds of clean, crunch and overdrive
in a single housing. Bona fide instruments
that impose no limits on spontaneity and
expressive powers!
The Tone of Hughes & Kettner
The last 50 years birthed but a few of
distinctive electric guitar sounds. Like
most guitarists, we are fascinated by the
inspirational power of these trademark tones.
And our amp designs are steeped in this rich
tonal heritage.
We respect the legacy but continue to strive
for perfection, painstakingly fine-tuning our
amps to improve on classic sounds.
The fruits of our labors are here for all to hear:
Every channel does what a good amp should
– and so much more. Collectively, these
channels deliver the versatility you expect,
the responsiveness you demand, and the
tone you deserve. Whatever tonal treasures
you seek, you’re sure to find them here!
Ultimate Tone. Ultimate Flexibility
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Inspiration through Innovation
Look at an amp and you’ll see applied
science; listen to a good one and you’re
hearing art. An amp is an instrument with
a distinctive personality and playability.
As such, it is a source of inspiration that
has a decisive impact on your music. We
believe our amps to be the stimulus for your
creative activity. And that’s why we are so
deeply committed to bringing the benefits
of innovative ideas and exceptional sound
quality to every class, from the newbie-amp
to the high-end flagship.
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e Master Class: Handcraed Art of Performance
Our company is powered by a passion for
tone. We know that it takes a lot more than
a fistful of valves and branded speakers to
make great amps. You have to obsess about
every detail. And it’s not just the design, the
workmanship or the quality of components.
The magic is in the right combination!
Our Custom Class amps are the fruit of our
never-ending quest for perfect tone and
performance. It is this pursuit of excellence
that makes Hughes & Kettner® Custom
Class amps unique instruments for unique
musicians, designed to satisfy even the most
discriminating guitarists’ demands. Looking
for the ultimate? You’ve found it.
Our Custom Class is not about yesteryear’s
designs that limit your playing flexibility. Nor
are these amps about this month’s flavor.
They are the perfect marriage of classic tones
and modern flexibility. These treasure-troves
of tone are built to go the distance in all
respects.
Custom Class
They are handcrafted in our German
custom-shop, just like you’d expect from
products in this class. But despite boutique
credentials such as hand-wired circuitry
and superior grade hand-selected tubes,
we engineer these amps using 21st-century
manufacturing and cutting-edge testing
methods. And that translates to dramatically
diminished tolerances and variances for
unprecedented reliability and consistent
sound quality.
These amps look awesome. But under that
stylish skin, they are tough as nails
– built
to take a pounding and keep on sounding!
Featuring heavy-duty stainless steel chassis,
they are rugged, reliable and roadworthy
pieces of performing art!
Whatever your favorite flavor
– The Shadows,
Slade, Santana, Sting or Slipknot
– you can
count on our Custom Class amps to give you
the definitive sounds you’ve come to expect
from Hughes & Kettner. Today and at every
gig for many moons to come!
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TriAmp® MK II is your first choice for
awesome sound and total tonal flexibility.
This definitive all-tube, Custom Class amp
puts the most sought-after sounds in amp
history at your fingertips. It’s all there, from
vintage Californian clean to ‘60s British jangle
and from classic rock tones to nu metal
meltdown. TriAmp puts an end to carting
an armada of amps around for the sake of
versatility – and adds crucial performance
features for stage use.
Each of the amp sections features two
channels, dedicated 3-band EQ and Master
controls. Remote channel switching comes
TriAmp® MK II
courtesy of the included Stageboard. The
built-in effects loop is configurable in serial
or parallel mode, and the optional MSM-1
MIDI module adds remote MIDI switching
capabilities. This turns TriAmp into the hub of
every cutting-edge sound system. This amp is
the real deal, boasting a staggering 13 hand-
selected tubes in a non-compromising design.
Finally, all-tube tone and total versatility come
together in one awe-inspiring masterpiece
of rock art – what more could you want in an
amp?
Three of the finest classic tube amp
designs rolled into one!
e Ultimate Tube Head
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TriAmp MK II
Custom Class all-tube design: 13 tubes!
Three classic amps in one with 6 channels:
Amp 1: Channel A – Vintage Californian Clean
Channel B – Vintage British Clean
Amp 2: Channel A – Classic British Rock
Channel B – Vintage British Rock
Amp 3: Channel A – Duotone-like Overdrive
Channel B – Modern US Hi Gain
“Tight” Switch in Amp 1
FX-loop mode switch (serial or parallel)
Stageboard included
Power amp: four EL34 tubes / 100 W at 4, 8 or 16 Ohms
Half-power switch
Optional MSM-1 MIDI remote module
750 x 340 x 256 mm; 22 kg / 49 lbs
Custom Class
Stageboard included
MSM-1 MIDI Module (optional)
Add the MSM-1 module to turn TriAmp
into a full-fledged sound system with MIDI
switchable channels and FX loop switching
(including serial/parallel modes).
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Custom Class
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Duotone
Custom class all-tube design
Two Channels: Clean and Overdrive
Switchable boost on Overdrive Channel
Independent triple-band EQs per channel
Tube-driven parallel effects loop
Master Controls: Presence, Master 1, Master 2, Effect
Dual Master for 2 foot-switchable output volume presets
Power amp:
Head - four EL34 tubes / 100 W
Combo - two EL34 tubes / 50 W
Speaker: 1 x 12" Celestion® Vintage 30 (combo)
Footswitch included
750 x 320 x 250 mm; 24 kg / 53 lbs (head)
670 x 560 x 250 mm; 27 kg / 60 lbs (combo)
Duotone®
e Supercharged “British” Classic
So we went on to build the first off-the-rack amp
to offer all of these special tweaks as standard
features: You get supercharged classic rock
tones thick enough to slice with fat, dynamic
overdrive, a top-drawer clean channel, a tube-
driven effects loop, and even a dual master. And
with a 100-watt Duotone head and a Celestion®
Vintage 30 equipped 50-watt combo on offer,
the choice is all yours. Duotone
– all of the real
sounds, none of the limitations!
Duotone® delivers to-die-for tone, but
takes the one-sound-wonder of vintage
amps a significant step further. When we
set out to design this modern classic, we
collaborated with an amp-tuning specialist
to embrace the pros’ most frequently asked
for modifications. The top four demands
are more tone, more attack, a tube-driven
effects loop and a clean channel that merits
its name!
Truest British and beyond…
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No frills for the ultimate sonic thrills…
The amp of every purist’s dream: If you have
always wished for an amp that responds to
your every touch, then this one’s for you!
Determined to create a truly uncluttered
amp with point-to-point wiring, we sought
to go the shortest distance between guitar
and speaker cabinet. Everything else had to
go. Forget the master, effects loop and fancy
switching frills
– our no-nonsense blueprint
left no room for interpreters that might
dilute the message. Just one channel with
3-band EQ, a volume control, and selected
superior components
– that’s it.
Puretone™
Purist Pleasures
This disciplined approach yielded one of the
world’s most responsive and articulate amps.
And if you feel the EQ gets in the way, simply
dial it out by using the Growl knob.
Puretone pumps out far more volume than
you’d expect from a 25-watt amp sporting
two EL34 tubes. Hence the two-stage power-
soak that lets you enjoy the aural rapture of
a Class A power amp breaking up
– without
blowing out your eardrums.
Puretone is the non-stop ticket to tonal
heaven for real players!
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Puretone
Custom class all-tube design, Class A
Single channel with 3-Band EQ
Growl knob for tapering off the EQ up ‘til Bypass
Head and combo versions available
Power amp: two EL34 tubes / 25 W
Two-stage power soak for power reduction
Speaker: 1 x 12" Celestion® Vintage 30 (combo)
625 x 320 x 260 mm; 17 kg / 38 lbs (head)
625 x 520 x 250 mm; 25 kg / 55 lbs (combo)
Custom Class
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Alex Lifeson, the iconic guitar player for
Canadian progressive rock band Rush, has
amazed fans all over the world for more
than 30 years. His reliable partner in tone is
our state-of-the art TriAmp®. As a gesture
of gratitude for Alex‘s faith in our work, and
to offer a very special treat to you, we have
collaborated with him to create this unique
signature model: The venerable Plexiglas
front panel is inscribed with Alex’s signature
and backlit in a stylish shade of purple. The
amp‘s exterior boasts hip black crocodile-
style covering
– one look and you‘ll be
hooked!
The first 500 amps include a special Rush CD,
tour book and certificate signed by Alex.
TriAmp® Alex Lifeson
Signature Model
Custom Class

Custom Cabinet CC 412 A30 / AL
Of course, we have created a special version of
our acclaimed Custom Cabinet CC 412 A30 to
match the unique look of the Alex Lifeson model.
TriAmp Alex Lifeson
Signature Model
Custom Class all-tube design: 13 tubes!
Three classic amps in one with 6 channels:
Amp 1: Channel A – Vintage Californian Clean
Channel B – Vintage British Clean
Amp 2: Channel A – Classic British Rock
Channel B – Vintage British Rock
Amp 3: Channel A – Duotone Overdrive
Channel B – Modern US Hi Gain
“Tight” Switch in Amp 1
FX-loop mode switch (serial or parallel)
Stageboard included
Power amp: four EL34 tubes / 100 W at 4, 8 or 16 Ohms
Half-power switch
Optional MSM-1 MIDI remote module
750 x 340 x 256 mm; 22 kg / 49 lbs
Alex is more than merely a world-class
guitarist
– he‘s a standup guy who‘s
supporting the cause of children‘s wellbeing.
We are donating 50 $ to UNICEF for every
signature amp sold.
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Custom Class
zenTera® is everything today’s player has
hoped for. And more: Imagine having the
milestone sounds of every great guitar rig
of the past 50 years at your beck and call.
Imagine being able fall back on 17 vintage
amp classics on stage every night, without
breaking the bank, your back or your guitar
tech’s morale with quirky ancient gear.
Imagine no more, zenTera® is here!
zenTera® is an awe-inspiring amp for
professional players seeking a sound system
with total tonal flexibility. Its amp models
were conceived with carefully selected and
extremely rare vintage beauties providing the
sonic blueprints. Adjusting automatically to
offer the original amps’ control ranges, even
the knobs feel authentic! zenTera®’s effects
were designed with the same attention to
detail
– a virtual collection of classic stomp
boxes awaits, including the TS-808 overdrive,
Small Stone™ phaser, and a whole lot more!
zenTera®
e definitive Custom Class
modeling amp
The milestone tones of amp history
in a single amp…
zenTera® was engineered with the working
guitarist in mind and features a classic
control panel with easy access to all standard
functions and customizing options. Its mixer
out provides speaker simulation to make life
easier on stage or when recording late at
night. Skip the mic and simply plug straight
into the FOH desk or your computer’s audio
interface to enjoy killer sound!
So if ultimate tone and flexibility are your
prime objective, and you’ve always wanted
a collection of the greatest guitar rigs of
the past 50 years (and wouldn’t mind the
best classic and modern effects thrown in),
zenTera® is here to satisfy your gear-lust. This
collection of digitally modeled amps will put
a genuine analog smile on your face!
Amp modeling, finally done right!
“Nice try” is probably what comes to mind
when you hear “guitar amp modeling.” Many
great products out there give you all sorts of
modeling bells and FX whistles – and they even
do it cheaply! But that digital aftertaste still
lingers. That might be OK for some, but we
are determined to deliver amps with real
tone & feel for serious players!
This is where DSM (Dynamic Sector Modeling)
comes in: After years of painstaking research,
we managed to create a new technology
that authentically recreates the acoustical
and electrical properties of the modeled
amp. Our DSM amps’ virtual sectors interact
just like the hard-wired components in their
physical counterparts. In fact, our models are
so amazingly accurate that they capture each
amp’s trademark subtleties in every aspect.
If you know and care about tone, check out
DSM and prepare for a sonic revelation that
may forever change your perceptions. As
many reviewers worldwide attest, DSM is
convincing enough to convert even true
tube believers!
DSM™
Dynamic Sector Modeling
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zenTera Z-Board
Custom Class DSM-modeling design Display
Head and combo version available 5 program switches
Two Sharc 32-bit floating point DSP 1 to 5 / 6 to 10 switcher
24-bit A/D converter, 116 dB dynamic range Bank up / down
17 amp types Wah Wah / Expression Pedal, Volume Pedal
4 FX groups: 11 Insert, 9 Modulation, 8 Delay, 8 Reverb Tap Tempo
128 presets (001-100 user programmable) Built-in Tuner
Power amp: 2 x 100 W Stainless steel housing
Analog and digital (S/PDIF) stereo recording outs 7 kg / 15 lbs
Stereo FX loop, serial
MIDI In, Out, Thru
Speaker: 1 x 12" Celestion® Vintage 30 (combo)
750 x 300 x 250 mm; 19 kg / 42 lbs (head)
755 x 600 x 295 mm; 29 kg / 64 lbs (combo)
Z-Board (optional)
The ultimate control board for zenTera®
Z-Board unleashes the amp’s sound system
capabilities to its full extent!
Amp Models
‘66 Fender
® Twin Reverb
‘57 Fender
® Tweed Deluxe
‘59 Fender
® Bassman
‘59 Fender
® Bassman
‘63 VOX® AC30
‘63 VOX® AC30 Boost
‘68 Marshall® model 1987
‘68 Marshall® model 1959
Effects
Reverb
Hall
Spring
Garage
Stage
Small
Bright
Normal
Warm
Insert
Wah Wah
Compressor
Tube Scream
Fuzz
Mid Boost
Mod FX
Chorus
Flanger
Phaser
Phaser XL
Tremolo
Delay
Echo
Ping Pong
Tape Echo
Tape Hallo
Tape Multi
Hold Echo
Hold Ping Pong
Hold Tape
‘80s hot-rodded Plexi 100
Marshall® JCM DSL 2000
‘87 Soldano® SLO 100
‘98 Mesa® Triple Rectifier
‘01 Hughes & Kettner® Warp7
‘98 Hughes & Kettner® Montana
‘88 Hughes & Kettner® ATS 100
‘80 Roland® Jazz Chorus
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Speakers are a critical factor for ultimate
sound
– they are the final link in the chain
of musical expression. So, we engineered
these Custom Cabinets to match our Custom
Class heads’ superior tone. These cabinets
meet the most stringent standards for
workmanship and move some serious air to
broadcast your musical message, loud and
proud!
Custom Cabinets
e Art of Sound
Custom Cabinets
CC 212 CC 412 A/B 25 CC 412 A/B 30 CC 412 WA 30
straight A = slanted, B = straight A = slanted, B = straight slanted
2 x 12" Speaker 4 x 12" Speaker 4 x 12" Speaker 4 x 12" Speaker
50 W mono; 2 x 25 W stereo 100 W mono, 2 x 50 W stereo 280 W mono, 2 x 140 W stereo 280 W mono, 2 x 140 W stereo
mono: 8 ohms, stereo: 2 x 16 ohms mono: 4/16 ohms, stereo: 2 x 8 ohms mono: 4/16 ohms, stereo: 2 x 8 ohms mono: 8 ohms, stereo: 2 x 4 ohms
mono/left + right mono/left + right mono/left + right mono/left + right
2 steel handles 2 steel handles 2 steel handles 2 steel handles
Casters optional Casters Casters Casters
750 x 570 x 290 mm, 22 kg / 49 lbs 750 x 750 x 360 mm, 35 kg / 77 lbs 750 x 750 x 360 mm, 38 kg / 84 lbs 760 x 810 x 360 mm, 46 kg/101 lbs
CC 212
More low-end punch than an
open combo, yet an airier tone
than a 4 x 12" cabinet: Our
CC 212 is the crossroads where
these two types meet. Compact
and light, it’s easy tote on your
own.
Custom Class
Custom Series Cabinets are loaded
exclusively with G12M (Greenback) and
Vintage 30 speakers built by the celebrated
speaker maven Celestion®. Crafted of high
quality plywood with a very low specific
weight, they are rugged and tuned to deliver
excellent audio response. The housings are
built to underscore the speakers’ trademark
tonal properties. Their dovetailed joints
create bonds that ensure stability bordering
on indestructibility and anchor the resonating
panels firmly in place. They are precision-
braced like acoustic guitars to fine-tune
their resonant properties. This custom-shop
approach extends to faux leather coverings
selected for their swank, stylish visuals and
superior acoustical attributes!
The Voice of your amp
CC 412 A/B 25
A 4 x 12" guitar cabinet loaded
with original ‘60s-model
speakers. These Celestion®
G12Ms Greenbacks’ distinctively
punchy yet gloriously airy
sound is the key to mind-
blowing clean, crunch and
classic rock tone.
CC 412 WA 30
The perfect 4 x 12" cab for
every heavy half-stack. Four
Celestion® Vintage 30 speakers
and an oversized enclosure for
earthshaking low-end thrust.
CC 412 A/B 30
Sporting Celestion® Vintage 30
speakers with jumbo magnets,
these speakers deliver a mighty
bottom-end punch and plenty of
mids for creamy lead tones. The
perfect choice for contemporary
high-gain sounds!
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TubeTools®
Spice up your sound with these Custom Class
tone-shaping tools. These unique pedals
are as easy to handle as a classic stompbox,
but feature the musical substance of a real
instrument.
TubeTools’ rich heritage dates back nearly
20 years to 1987, when we unveiled Cream
Machine, the world’s smallest tube-driven
guitar amp. 1992 saw the invention of the
original Tubeman®, the world’s first tube
guitar recording preamp. Today these highly
regarded vintage gems are sought after for
their unique sounds and command high
prices on the secondhand market.
TubeTools’ dynamic performance and musical
vitality are rooted in Hughes & Kettner’s
decades of experience with tube technology.
We power TubeTools with hand-selected
thermionic valves running at a hot 300 volts
to get those tubes cooking and serve up a
sizzling sonic treat! Built like tanks, these
pedals get the job done with unheard-of
authenticity. If you want all of the best classic
tones and none of the hassle of dealing with
old gear, TubeTools are for you!
Classic Tube Pedals: High Voltage–Substantial Sound

Custom Class
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Custom Class
Tubeman
High-voltage tube circuitry,
12AX7 tube
3 Channels:
Clean, Crunch and Lead
Master triple-band EQ
Voicing control in
Lead Channel
Silent channel switching
with no delay
Line Out (Power Amp Out) and
Mixer Out with Red Box® speaker
simulation
Real Bypass
Rugged metal housing
225 x 80 x 215 mm; 2.2 kg / 5 lbs
Tubeman® MK II is the professional all-tube
tone dynamo to go! It offers three separately
adjustable channels, each accessible directly
via footswitches, and a 3-band EQ section.
We tweaked the third channel specifically
for lead sounds and added a unique Voicing
knob. This hip feature lets you shape tonal
characteristics to dial in the trademark sound
of your favorite amp. And as if that wasn’t
enough, we’ve also included our acclaimed
Red Box® speaker simulation to turn Tubeman
into the perfect tube-driven guitar recording
station!
Tubeman® MK II
Tube Guitar Preamp & Recording
Station with Integrated RedBox®
This is the go-to pedal for superior dynamic
control, glossy overtones and all-tube
overdrive. Phenomenally easy to tweak, Tube
Factor juices up your every sound. It grants
you greater tonal control over every note you
play, adds lots of presence and punch, and
can even spare you costly amp modifications.
Simply plug Tube Factor into your amp’s front
end and enjoy instant tonal bliss!
Tube Factor
High-voltage tube circuitry,
12AX7 tube
FACTOR 1/2 switches between
Clean and Ultra Overdrive
Separate controls for
Drive and Output
Voicing control for a
huge palette of sounds
Real Bypass
Rugged metal housing
160 x 80 x 215 mm; 1.6 kg / 4 lbs
Tube Factor™
Classic tube booster/overdrive
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